Epilatory Device

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to new epilatory device and its application to hair removal, said device comprising a flat elongate body having an adhesive paste medium applied to a first side of the body, characterised in that the device further includes a grab member having at least one aperture therein, arranged so that a users finger can be inserted into the aperture during use to aid removal of the device from a users body part, together with epilated hair.

The present invention relates to new epilatory device and its application to hair removal. Hair removal, particularly for cosmetic purposes, is performed by several techniques. The technique of electrolysis, electrical devices gripping and pulling out the hair, for example with the aid of rotating parts, chemical agents such as sulphides, the conventional tweezers, as well as hot and cold epilatory waxes, may be used for example.

Cold epilatory waxes are generally applied to a thin backing in the form of a strip. Such a wax will hereinafter be termed adhesive paste medium. Traditionally, a film of cellophane or a non woven material having the adhesive paste medium applied directly on one side of the strip is used. This type of product is commonly referred to as a cold wax strip and it typically found in the general shape of a rectangle.

Such cold wax strips are used as follows: the user presses the strip firmly onto the area to be epilated, the adhesive medium being placed in the direction of the area to be depilated, then one end of the backing strip is grasped and pulled sharply away from the area to be depilated. The hairs trapped in the adhesive paste medium are therefore removed from the treated area and in principle the whole of the adhesive paste medium remains attached to the backing strip.

However, a disadvantage of known cold wax strips is that a user typically finds use of the cold wax strip difficult to use to achieve consistent efficacy.

Therefore according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an epilatory device comprising a flat elongate body having an adhesive paste medium applied to a first side of the body, characterised in that the device further includes a grab member having at least one aperture therein, arranged so that a user's finger can be inserted into the aperture during use to aid removal of the device from a user's body part, together with epilated hair.

The grab member is held by the user to aid removal of the device from a users body part. Typically, the grab member is substantially free of adhesive paste medium. This is particularly advantageous to allow the user to ensure the epilatory device is removed in the correct direction, speed and angle to the leg surface, thereby improving efficacy of the device.

It is envisaged that the aperture may be circular, square, oval or any shape that permits a users finger (or fingers) to be inserted therein. It is also envisaged that the aperture may be in the form of a cross. Typically, the shape of a circle, square, oval or cross (or the desired aperture shape) may be formed by scoring, cutting the aperture's shape or by creating a perforated line around at least a portion of the aperture's shape, When at least a portion of the aperture's shape is formed from scoring and/or perforation, the user typically creates the aperture when they push their finger through the scored or perforated line.

Advantageously, the grab member permits a user of the device to easily grip the epilatory device. This will result in the user having less chance to misuse the strip and therefore lead to better user technique and improved efficacy when using the epilatory device of the present invention.

The grab member having the aperture therein also provides the advantage of providing “directionality” to the epilatory device which will allow improved efficacy by the end user.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment the body and the grab member is a single unitary substrate. The substrate may be a single-layer or multi-layer plastics material or may be a non-woven fabric. It is also envisaged that the body and the grab member are of a non-woven material so that has undergone extrusion lamination of a barrier material.

The body is typically in the form of a rectangle. It is envisaged that the grab member may be square, rectangular, elliptical or any other shape.

It is preferred that the substrate is a non woven material or cellophane, however it is envisaged that any suitable substrate may be used.

It is preferred that the body and/or grab member has indicia applied thereto. The indicia may be instructions or other indicia which may provide guidance to an end user on how to use the epilatory device. The indicia may be, for example, one or more arrows which give guidance to the user on which way to pull the epilatory device away from the users body in use. The indicia may be on the body and/or the grab member.

It is envisaged that two epilatory devices are attached together, typically the adhesive paste medium on a first epilatory device is attached to adhesive paste medium on a second epilatory device. In use, the first epilatory device and the second epilatory device are ‘peelable’ in order to allow easy separation of the epilatory device at the moment of use.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents a single depilatory strip according to a first embodiment the invention;

FIG. 2 represents a single depilatory strip according to a second aspect of the first aspect of the invention;

FIG. 3 represents a single depilatory strip according to a third aspect of the first embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 represents a single depilatory strip according to a second embodiment the invention;

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4. where like numerals have been used to represent like parts, there is provided an epilatory device 101, 201, 301 and 401. The device includes a body 102, 202, 302, 402 and a grab member 103, 203, 303, 403. The adhesive paste medium 104, 204, 304, 404 is positioned on the body 102, 202, 302, 402 and is arranged to grab the hair to be epilated in use.

Indicia in the form of an arrow 106, 206 is on the body 102, 202 to give guidance to the user and the direction to pull the device 101, 201 when in use.

Referring specifically to FIG. 4, the hole 405 is formed by the users inserting a finger through perforated line 407 to create hole 405, defined by scored line 408. 

1. An epilatory device comprising: a flat elongate body having an adhesive paste medium applied to a first side of the body, and a grab member having at least one aperture therein, arranged so that a user's finger can be inserted into the aperture during use to aid removal of the device from a user's body part, together with epilated hair.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the grab member and the body are formed from a single unitary substrate.
 3. The device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the grab member is substantially free of adhesive paste medium.
 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the apertures has a shape that permits a users finger to be inserted therein.
 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the shape of at least one of the apertures is formed by scoring.
 6. The device according to claim 1, at least a portion of which comprises one or more of a single-layer plastics material, multi-layer plastics material, and a non-woven fabric.
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the body is in the form of a rectangle.
 8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the grab member is selected from the group consisting of a square, rectangular and elliptical.
 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the body and/or grab member has indicia applied thereto.
 10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the indicia is indicative of how to use the device.
 11. (canceled)
 12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the shape of at least one of the apertures is selected from the group consisting of a circle, square, oval and cross.
 13. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the shape of at least one of the apertures is formed by a process selected from the group consisiting of cutting and creating a perforated line. 